Wrench.



J. A. JOHNSTON 8 C. D. JACOBS.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I916.

Patented ct. 17,1916.

JOHN A. JOHNSTON AND CHARLES D. JACOBS, F BLUFFTON, INDIANA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. it, 1916.

Application filed July 3, 1916. Serial No. 107,393.

Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVrenches, of which the following is a full and clear specification.

This invention relates to improvements in m wrenches of the type which embodies an adjustable jaw, and it has for its object to provide means whereby said adjustable'j aw can be moved rapidly from one position to another, and, in addition, to secure a fine adjustment when necessary.

A further object is to provide a wrench of this character which can be operated with one hand.

These and other objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved wrench showing the movable jaw in operative position and in a position for fine adjustment; Fig. 2 is a similar view with a portion of the shank and the movable jaw being shown in section, and with the movable jaw in a quick adjusting position; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures of the drawing designate like parts. Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the shank 5 is formed with a handle 6 t one end and a head 7, forming a stationary jaw, at its other end. Intermediate the handle and stationary jaw, the front edge of the shank is preferably beveled, as shown at 8, and a portion of the face of said beveled 4 portion is cut transversely to form a series of teeth 9. The rear side of said shank 5 is preferably formed with a groove 10 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Mounted to slide upon the shank 5 is a movable member 11 comprising a aw 12 and an integral housing inclosing the front and sides of the shank. At the rear side of the jaw is provided a connecting bar 13 which is spaced in close relation to the rear face of the shank, and at or near the bottom of the member 11 is formed a loop 14: whose crossbar 15 is spaced a considerable distance from the shank and between which and the shank is positioned a spring 16 whose ends project 55011 both sides of the bar 15 and are constructed to slide in the groove 10 of the shank.

The sides of the loop 14 extend downwardly and forwardly from the cross-bar 15 beyond the front face of the shank and its front end is constructed to form a lower bearing 1'? in which is j ournaled one end of a thumb-worm 18 which is adapted to engage the transverse threads 9 to adjust the movable member upon the shank and to secure a fine adjustment and whose upper end is journaled in the body of the movable jaw.

The beveled edge of the shank provides a relatively narrow face across which the teeth 9 are formed. The teeth being short in length, they only engage a small portion of the worm; consequently the worm easily rcengages the short teeth when it returns to its normalposition. Furthermore, the beveled edge allows the use of a shank body of substantial thickness to resist the strains, and at the same time provide an easily engageable adjusting means. The beveled edge also leaves the greater portion of the periphery of the worm exposed, especially at its sides, thus providing greater finger space for the operator.

- In operation, the thumb-worm is normally in engagement with the teeth 9, as shown in Fig. 1, and is held inthis position by the spring 16 pressing against the bar 15 which is positioned in the same plane as the transverse center of the thumb-worm. In this position a very fine adjustment can be secured by rotating the worm, but when a wide adjustment is needed it is accomplished in a rapid manner bypressing upon the bar 15 which throws the member 11 outwardly at its lower end and disengages the worm 18 from the teeth 9. When in this position, the member 11 can be moved freely and rapidly upon the shank without engaging the teeth. The position of the cross-bar 15 opposite the transverse center of the thumb-worm enables the operator to readily press upon the cross-bar with his thumb or use his thumb and first finger to rotate the thumbworm without changing his grasp upon the handle. In other words it makes the wrench especially adapted for use with one hand.

This wrench is especially adapted for use with one hand and byv operating the bar 15 with the thumb the movable jaw can be adjusted to any desired position to engage an object placed between the jaws. Should i the rapid adjusting means secure a loose engagement with the object, by turning the worm 18 atight engagement can be secured.

In other words, the worm. gives an adjustment less than the Width of the teeth 9.

The whole device provides a simple, strong and inexpensive tool which is easily and rapidly operated With one hand.

Havlng thus described our 1nvent1on,

what we claim is A wrench comprising a shank having. on

lower end having a cross-bar spaced a considerable distance from said shank, the sides of said loop being extended downwardly and forwardly beyond the front face of said shank to form a bearing, a thLlI11b-\VOIII1 mounted to rotate between said bearing and the body of the j aw and to engage the teeth on the shank, said spaced crossbar of the loop being positioned in the same plane as the transverse center of said thumb-worm, and a spring engaging said spaced cross-bar of the loop and projecting on both sides thereof with its ends engaged in said longitudinal groove of the shank.

In testimony whereof we hereunto atfix our signatures, this 27th day of J une, 1916.

JOHN A. JOHNSTON. A CHARLES D. JACOBS.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by' addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

